The Government Plans To Decentralize Covid-19 Testing

• Covid-19 testing to be decentralized for easy contact tracing.
• Counties to ensure they have the minimum number of beds in the isolation center

While speaking at Kakamega, the health cabinet secretary Mutahi Kagwe, said that the government is on the run to decentralize Covid-19 testing. Kagwe revealed that currently they have 32 testing kits in the country. Which means some counties lack the testing kits and have to ferry blood samples to other counties for testing. However,  the ministry said they are already working to settle the issue once and for all.

The CS said that the main aim of decentralization Covid-19 testing process is to enable contact tracing. The acting Director-General of health Dr. Patrick Amoth said that the delay comes from the importation of reagents from countries in the Eastern and western continents. Amoth also reiterated that the reagents are in high demand with different countries, which makes it take longer to have them in the country.

County Preparedness

With the corona cases being high on recent daily reports, CS Kagwe said that the fighting needs a combined effort to succeed. He also warned the politicians from making health issues political.
While speaking in Mumias before going to Kakamega, Mutahi said that all the county governments are supposed to have the required bed capacity. He estimated the range of daily corona infections to be  between 500 to 700 with the virus reportedly having hit all the 47 counties.
“It is better safe than sorry. Let people criticize us later because they will say we went on a rampage of putting up beds that were not utilized. We are on the right course,” Kagwe said. Besides, the CS was pleased with Kakamega county’s  preparedness through the facilitation of the isolation center with beds.
“There are people who tell me not to be fooled with the counties preparations to attain the capacity of 300 beds, which was a presidential directive,” he said.
“But I have seen for myself what Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has been able to do. This is genuinely a massive project that will have a positive impact on the region’s health infrastructure,” he said. He also applauded the governor for facilitating the county referral hospital.

Report to the State

For instance, CS of health Mutahi Kagwe said that he would ensure that all county governments get aid from the National government. Speaking about the health workers, Mutahi assured them that the government would ensure that they receive motivation.
Also, they will be provided with  N95 masks with other protective equipment in their duty to serve the sick. The CS further encouraged them to work tirelessly as their excellent work is revealed with the effort they have shown from the start.
“Health workers have full support from the government because we are committed to seeing doctors and nurses meet patients when they are not annoyed. We appreciate the good work you are doing,” he said .
Not leaving the county empty handed, Kagwe donated 4,000 PPEs during the visit to the county. While in Kakamega he visited the isolation center which had 312 beds. Finally, Mutahi urged Kenyans to follow and observe the guidelines of wearing a face mask , sanitizing and social distance.
Also read:Special Audit To Be Done On Billions Spend On COVID-19.